KARACHI, Feb 19: A number of students are dismayed that the authorities have failed to keep their promises made in regard to the promotion of information technology in the province.

Intermediate students, who took their info-tech examination as an optional subject after considerable delay, are still waiting for separate certificates, reflecting the marks they got in it. They were given the examination in July last year while the results were declared separately in November.

It is unfortunate that the documents had not been delivered to the students yet, said a college principal, adding that the candidates in question visited their institutions frequently and asked for their certificates.

Interestingly, the education boards and college principals were in a state of confusion about the status of information technology and about the implementation of government's decision to hold IT examination as a compulsory subject in colleges and higher secondary schools from this year, said some sources.

In 2001, the federal government had decided to attach greater emphasis to computer education and training and in line with that decision the Sindh government had ordered the introduction of IT as a compulsory subject at the intermediate level. The provincial education department had to move speedily for the implementation of this decision.

Students, admitted to the first year intermediate classes in 2001-2002, were supposed to take the IT examination like all other compulsory subjects, but in view of the reported inadequate facilities and opposition from a group of college teachers, the Sindh government had to retreat.

First it decided to treat IT as a compulsory subject, with just one examination being given during the two years of intermediate. But later it declared that the IT examination would not be deemed a compulsory one and students could take it as an additional or optional subject.

The government announced in March 2003 that IT as a compulsory subject was being deferred for one year. However, when contacted the education board officials said they were still unsure about the status of IT as a subject.

"We have already written to the Sindh education department to clarify their position on the status of IT," said an official, adding that the principals of the colleges were concerned over the issue as examination forms had to be submitted by the students and they wanted to know whether IT was a compulsory subject or an optional one.

Under the revised scheme of the Sindh government, more than 4,000 students belonging to different faculties had appeared in the IT examination in 2003, given by the BIE Karachi, while about 2,500 were declared to have passed it.

Meanwhile, the candidates who passed the IT examination-2003 recalled the government's commitment towards them and said they had not been given the cash prizes that had been promised to those who bagged good marks.

In order to appreciate the efficiency of the better students, the education department had decided to award seven cash prizes to those securing the highest marks in the IT optional examinations for the year 2003.

Awards worth Rs50,000, Rs40,000, Rs30,000, Rs20,000, Rs15,000, Rs10,000 and Rs5,000 had been pledged. Karachi-based students have urged the education boards and education department to fulfil their promises.